The Shins, Gomez - Live Rockin’ Updates!

So I've been to a couple of shows lately and been sadly slothful in my keepings you posted. Let's start with the Shins, in the Venue, Salt Lake City, February 16, 2007. This show was supposed to be opened by Viva Voce, a husband and wife duo from Oregon [via Alabama]. However there was some inclement weather that kept them out, so it was just the Shins, which is just as well, as my party was sadly late, but lucked out and missed none of the rocking. First of all, if you've heard that the Shins are afraid to rock, or if you've heard songs like "New Slang" or "Pink Bullets" and come to the same conclusion, you are mistaken. From the opening song, "Sleeping Lessons" from the new album Wincing the Night Away, you learn the truth of things. The Shins can, and will, rock when required to, and a live setting is perfect opportunity. Seriously, the Shins know when to hold 'em, etc. Other examples of rocking out include, but are not limited to, when frontman James Mercer complained that his voice was starting to sound like Lemmy from Motorhead, without missing a beat playing the bassline of "Ace of Spades"; and of free will playing a verse and chorus of Dio's "Holy Diver". This is rocking out. And they do it well. Also, the playing of "So Says I" should, according to my friend Dave, be played after each song. I think he might be right. It's that good. The following Friday I was lucky enough to partake in Gomez at Suede in Park City. Gomez's opener, Joe Purdy, were kind enough to show up to this one. During their set my party decided that they were a quaint little band of hobos. Fingerless gloves, beards, natty old suits, slide guitar, banjo, etc. They played nice bluesy numbers, some of which involved severely nice lead guitaring. They're good times. Gomez, for those who don't know, have been around for nigh on a decade but their popularity has been largely limited to the Uk. This, I must say, is a shame and a half, for the indie Brit-pop stylings are both catchy and classy. Being around as they have they have also learned how to put on a block-rockin' live show. Highlights include the constant switching of bass-playing duties, watching the percussionist rock out in his corner, and the extended jamming [especially on "How We Operate"]. Lowlights included being in Park City [seriously, that town blows], the drunk fellow yelling for "Shooting Holes in the Sky" between every song for the first quarter of the show, Gomez not taking the stage until after ten resulting in my being way tired during slow jams towards the end of the show. You may note that all these lowlights have to do with Park City and/or Suede, not Gomez. Final Verdicts: All the bands mentioned above are well worth seeing, even if you don't know that much of their music. Also, Park City sucks.